EP2294982A1 - Sonde für Ultraschalldiagnosegerät und Verfahren zur Schwingungsunterdrückung - Google Patents

Sonde für Ultraschalldiagnosegerät und Verfahren zur Schwingungsunterdrückung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2294982A1
EP2294982A1 EP10159594A EP10159594A EP2294982A1 EP 2294982 A1 EP2294982 A1 EP 2294982A1 EP 10159594 A EP10159594 A EP 10159594A EP 10159594 A EP10159594 A EP 10159594A EP 2294982 A1 EP2294982 A1 EP 2294982A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
transducer
vibration
probe
real
drive unit
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP10159594A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Joo Yeon Cho
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Samsung Medison Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Medison Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Medison Co Ltd filed Critical Medison Co Ltd
Publication of EP2294982A1 publication Critical patent/EP2294982A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A61B8/44—Constructional features of the ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic device
    • A61B8/4444—Constructional features of the ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic device related to the probe
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N29/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves; Visualisation of the interior of objects by transmitting ultrasonic or sonic waves through the object
    • G01N29/22—Details, e.g. general constructional or apparatus details
    • G01N29/24—Probes
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A61B8/52—Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A61B8/5269—Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves involving detection or reduction of artifacts
    • A61B8/5276—Devices using data or image processing specially adapted for diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves involving detection or reduction of artifacts due to motion
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B8/00—Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
    • A61B8/44—Constructional features of the ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic device
    • A61B8/4444—Constructional features of the ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic device related to the probe
    • A61B8/4455—Features of the external shape of the probe, e.g. ergonomic aspects

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a probe of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and, more particularly, to a probe of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that generates internal images of a patient body using ultrasound waves, and a method of suppressing vibration thereof.
  • an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus refers to a non-invasive apparatus that irradiates an ultrasound signal from a surface of a patient body towards a target internal organ beneath the body surface and obtains an image of a monolayer or blood flow in soft tissue from information in the reflected ultrasound signal (ultrasound echo-signal).
  • the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has been widely used for diagnosis of the heart, the abdomen, the urinary organs, and in obstetrics and gynecology due to various merits thereof such as small size, low price, real-time image display, and high stability through elimination of radiation exposure, as compared with other image diagnostic systems, such as X-ray diagnostic systems, computerized tomography scanners (CT scanners), magnetic resonance imagers (MRIs), nuclear medicine diagnostic apparatuses, and the like.
  • CT scanners computerized tomography scanners
  • MRIs magnetic resonance imagers
  • nuclear medicine diagnostic apparatuses nuclear medicine diagnostic apparatuses, and the like.
  • the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a cart-shaped main body for receiving main components thereof, a probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasound signals, a control panel having various switches and keys for inputting commands for manipulation of the apparatus, and a display unit for displaying an image of an ultrasonic diagnosis result.
  • the probe includes a transducer that converts electrical signals into sound signals or vice versa.
  • the transducer includes an ultrasound wave vibrator assembly composed of a set of ultrasound wave vibrators, which send ultrasound signals to a target to obtain an image of the target using the signals reflected from the target.
  • an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has been developed to display a three-dimensional ultrasound image.
  • the probe can obtain an image of a three-dimensional region using a transducer which transmits and receives ultrasound signals while moving along a preset locus.
  • the present invention is conceived to solve the problems of the related art as described above, and an aspect of the invention is to provide a probe of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can suppress vibration of the probe, and a method of suppressing vibration thereof.
  • a probe of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: a transducer moving along a preset locus; a drive unit driving the transducer; a detector sensing real-time vibration of the transducer during movement of the transducer; and a controller controlling operation of the drive unit depending on a sensed degree of vibration to suppress the real-time vibration of the transducer.
  • the detector may be provided to the transducer.
  • a method of suppressing vibration of a probe of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: moving a transducer along a preset locus; sensing real-time vibration of the transducer; and suppressing the real-time vibration of the transducer depending on a sensed degree of vibration.
  • the suppressing the real-time vibration may include suppressing the real-time vibration of the transducer by controlling operation of the drive unit depending on the sensed degree of vibration.
  • factors related to the drive unit and generating vibration of the transducer can be suppressed by changing a drive force transmitted to the transducer depending on a detected degree of real-time vibration of the transducer to suppress vibration of the transducer, thereby improving accuracy in ultrasonic diagnosis and providing a more accurate ultrasound image.
  • Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a probe of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the probe in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the probe in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a probe of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
  • a probe 100 of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a transducer 110, a drive unit 120, a detector 130, and a controller 140.
  • the transducer 110 moves along a preset locus.
  • the transducer 110 is rotatably disposed inside the probe 100 and transmits an ultrasound signal to a target and receives an ultrasound echo-signal reflected therefrom to realize a three-dimensional image of the target while moving along the preset locus, for example, to be rotated along a predetermined rotational radius.
  • the transducer 110 includes a piezoelectric layer (not shown) in which a piezoelectric material converts electrical signals into sound signals or vice versa while vibrating, a sound matching layer (not shown) reducing a difference in sound impedance between the piezoelectric layer and a target to allow as much of the ultrasound signals generated from the piezoelectric layer as possible to be transferred to the target, a lens layer (not shown) focusing the ultrasound signals, which travel in front of the piezoelectric layer, onto a predetermined point, and a backing layer (not shown) blocking the ultrasound signals from traveling in the rearward direction of the piezoelectric layer to prevent image distortion.
  • a piezoelectric layer (not shown) in which a piezoelectric material converts electrical signals into sound signals or vice versa while vibrating
  • a sound matching layer (not shown) reducing a difference in sound impedance between the piezoelectric layer and a target to allow as much of the ultrasound signals generated from the piezoelectric layer as possible to be transferred to the target
  • the drive unit 120 operates the transducer 110.
  • the drive unit 120 includes a power generator 121 which generates a drive force, and a power transmission unit 125 which transmits the drive force from the power generator 121 to the transducer 110.
  • the power transmission unit 125 includes a driving pulley 126 and a driven pulley 127.
  • the driving pulley 126 receives the drive force from the power generator 121 through a driving belt 128 that connects the power generator 121 to the driving pulley 126, and the driven pulley 127 is associated with the driving pulley 126 to transmit the drive force to a driven belt 129 that connects the transducer 110 to the driven pulley 127.
  • the driving belt 129 transmits the driving force to the transducer 110 to allow the transducer 110 to move along a preset locus.
  • the detector 130 is provided to the transducer 110 or the drive unit 120 and senses real-time vibration of the transducer 110 during movement of the transducer 110.
  • the detector 130 is provided to the transducer 110, the invention is not limited thereto.
  • the detector 130 may be provided to the drive unit 120 (see Fig. 4 ) or any other proper position so long as it can sense the vibration of the transducer.
  • the detector 130 includes a vibration sensor for sensing vibration generated in the probe 100 of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
  • the detector 130 senses the real-time vibration of the transducer 110 and transmits a detected degree of vibration to the controller 140.
  • the controller 140 controls operation of the transducer 110 and the drive unit 120.
  • the controller 140 controls not only fundamental operation of the transducer 110 and the drive unit 120, but also operation of the drive unit 120 in association with the detected degree of vibration to suppress the real-time vibration of the transducer 110. This will be described in detail below.
  • Fig. 5 is a flowchart of a method of suppressing vibration of a probe of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
  • the power generator 121 of the drive unit 120 is operated to generate a drive force.
  • the drive force generated by the power generator 121 is transmitted to the transducer 110 through the power transmission unit 125, so that the transducer 110 receiving the drive force moves along a preset locus, in S10.
  • the transducer 110 can undergo vibration relating to a variety of factors.
  • the transducer 110 can be vibrated by vibration transmitted from the drive unit 120, impact by inertial movement at a point where the transducer 110 changes a moving direction, or other factors such as use conditions, use patterns, or the like.
  • the vibration of the transducer 110 is sensed by the detector 130.
  • the detector 130 senses real-time vibration of the transducer 110 and transmits a sensed degree of vibration of the transducer 110 to the controller 140 in real time in S20.
  • the controller When receiving the sensed degree of vibration of the transducer 110 in real time from the detector 130, the controller suppresses the real-time vibration of the transducer 110 depending on the sensed degree of vibration in S30.
  • the controller 140 controls operation of the drive unit 120 to change the drive force depending on the sensed degree of vibration, thereby suppressing the real-time vibration of the transducer 110.
  • the controller 140 compares the degree of vibration, transmitted in real time from the detector 130, with a preset reference degree of vibration, and controls the operation of the drive unit 120 to lower the drive force transmitted from the drive unit 120 to the transducer 110, if the degree of vibration transmitted from the detector 130 exceeds the preset reference degree of vibration.
  • the controller 140 controls the operation of the drive unit 120 to change the drive force transmitted to the transducer 110 depending on the degree of vibration of the transducer 110 which is sensed in real time, thereby suppressing the vibration of the transducer 110 caused by various factors, such as vibration transmitted from the drive unit 120, impact by movement of the transducer 110 at a point where the transducer 110 changes the moving direction, and the like.
  • Such controlling the operation of the drive unit 120 is performed to reduce the real-time vibration of the transducer 110 as sensed by the detector 130 to the preset reference degree or less.
  • factors related to the drive unit 120 and generating vibration of the transducer 110 can be suppressed by changing a drive force transmitted to the transducer 110 depending on a detected degree of real-time vibration of the transducer 110 to suppress vibration of the transducer 110, thereby improving accuracy in ultrasonic diagnosis and providing a more accurate ultrasound image.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Radiology & Medical Imaging (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Biophysics (AREA)
  • Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • Surgery (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Medical Informatics (AREA)
  • Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Ultra Sonic Daignosis Equipment (AREA)
EP10159594A 2009-09-11 2010-04-12 Sonde für Ultraschalldiagnosegerät und Verfahren zur Schwingungsunterdrückung Withdrawn EP2294982A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
KR1020090085865A KR20110027988A (ko) 2009-09-11 2009-09-11 초음파 진단장치의 프로브 및 그 진동을 억제하는 방법

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2294982A1 true EP2294982A1 (de) 2011-03-16

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EP10159594A Withdrawn EP2294982A1 (de) 2009-09-11 2010-04-12 Sonde für Ultraschalldiagnosegerät und Verfahren zur Schwingungsunterdrückung

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US20110066033A1 (de)
EP (1) EP2294982A1 (de)
JP (1) JP2011056259A (de)
KR (1) KR20110027988A (de)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR102381763B1 (ko) * 2020-04-01 2022-04-01 건양대학교산학협력단 웨어러블 초음파 진단장치

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5425370A (en) * 1994-03-23 1995-06-20 Echocath, Inc. Method and apparatus for locating vibrating devices
US20050281419A1 (en) * 2004-06-18 2005-12-22 Shinichi Miyazaki Ultrasonic transducer, ultrasonic speaker, and method of controlling the driving of ultrasonic transducer
JP2007143704A (ja) * 2005-11-25 2007-06-14 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd 超音波探触子移動保持装置
KR20070074030A (ko) * 2006-01-06 2007-07-12 주식회사 메디슨 3차원 프로브

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0390311B1 (de) * 1989-03-27 1994-12-28 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Mechanischer Ultraschallabtaster
US6592520B1 (en) * 2001-07-31 2003-07-15 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Intravascular ultrasound imaging apparatus and method
US6733457B2 (en) * 2002-06-11 2004-05-11 Vermon Motorized multiplane transducer tip apparatus with transducer locking

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5425370A (en) * 1994-03-23 1995-06-20 Echocath, Inc. Method and apparatus for locating vibrating devices
US20050281419A1 (en) * 2004-06-18 2005-12-22 Shinichi Miyazaki Ultrasonic transducer, ultrasonic speaker, and method of controlling the driving of ultrasonic transducer
JP2007143704A (ja) * 2005-11-25 2007-06-14 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd 超音波探触子移動保持装置
KR20070074030A (ko) * 2006-01-06 2007-07-12 주식회사 메디슨 3차원 프로브

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Publication number Publication date
JP2011056259A (ja) 2011-03-24
KR20110027988A (ko) 2011-03-17
US20110066033A1 (en) 2011-03-17

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